Oxbow Nature Reserve, Reno, Washoe Co (Sep 28th, 2005)
There was a flight of Western Scrub Jays at Oxbow this morning, lasting for
about 5 minutes (c. 9:40am-9:45). At least 25 birds took part in the
flight, probably more. I've seen similar flights every year since 2001,
always in the second half of September. Today's jays first appeared over
the railroad tracks at the upstream end of the reserve, heading towards the
river where I lost track of them. They were flying fairly high (at about
the level of the tops of the tallest cottonwoods or a little higher); there
was one loose flock of 6, the rest straggling across as singles or in 2s or
3s. After 9:45or so, the sky was empty of jays again, except for the 3-
4 "residents" pursuing their usual activities in the willows & Russian
olives.